Wireless search

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described that provide for wireless searching in a location tracking environment. The methods, systems, and/or devices may include tools and techniques that provide for analyzing requests for location data of an entity and preparing a response set based on the request and the available tags. Response sets may include location data for the requested entity, location data for a second entity different from the requested entity, a clarifying question, or a null value. Multiple requests may be received and an order of evaluation will be determined. Results may be adjusted for individual users. Categories as well as individual entities may be searched. Upon receiving a response set, a mobile device may display directions to the identified entity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for wirelessly searching an environment, comprising:
 receiving, at an access point, beacons from one or more tags indicating location data for the tags;   receiving, from a mobile device, a request for location data of an entity; and   identifying a number of the tags that correspond to the entity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a response set based at least in part on the request, the identified tags, a user history, a unique identification of the mobile device, or an indication from the identified tags.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transmitting the response set to the mobile device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the response set comprises location data of the identified tags. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving, at an access point, a location of the mobile device.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the location data of the identified tags comprises a relative location with respect to the location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the location data of the identified tags comprises a predicted location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the response set comprises a no-match indicator, the no-match indicator comprising at least one of a null response, a null value, an autonomous determination response, or a clarifying prompt. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the response set comprises data for a second entity, the second entity being different from the entity for which location data was requested. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 updating the location data of the tags based on the received beacons.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request comprises:
 receiving, from the mobile device, a plurality of requests for location data of a plurality of entities; and   determining an order for evaluating the plurality of requests.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the order for evaluating the plurality of requests is based on at least one of a proximity decision, a category decision, a sponsor decision, an advertisement decision, an availability decision, a route decision, a user history decision, an autonomous decision, or a sale decision. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the request comprises:
 receiving, from the mobile device, a category request for location data of the entity.   
     
     
         14 . A system for wirelessly searching an environment, comprising:
 means for receiving, at an access point, beacons from one or more tags indicating location data for the tags;   means for receiving, from a mobile device, a request for location data of an entity; and   means for identifying a number of the tags that correspond to the entity.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 means for determining a response set based at least in part on the request, the identified tags, a user history, a unique identification of the mobile device, or an indication from the identified tags.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for transmitting the response set to the mobile device.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the response set comprises location data of the identified tags. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 means for receiving, at an access point, a location of the mobile device.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the location data of the identified tags comprises a relative location with respect to the location of the mobile device. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the location data of the identified tags comprises a predicted location. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the response set comprises a no-match indicator, the no-match indicator comprising at least one of a null response, a null value, an autonomous determination response, or a clarifying prompt. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the response set comprises data for a second entity, the second entity being different from the entity for which location data was requested. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 means for updating the location data of the tags based on the received beacons.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the means for receiving the request comprises:
 means for receiving, from a mobile device, a plurality of requests for location data of a plurality of entities; and   means for determining an order for evaluating the plurality of requests.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein determining the order for evaluating the plurality of requests is based on at least one of a proximity decision, a category decision, a sponsor decision, an advertisement decision, an availability decision, a route decision, a user history decision, an autonomous decision, or a sale decision. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the means for receiving the request comprises:
 means for receiving, from a mobile device, a category request for location data of the entity.   
     
     
         27 . An apparatus for wirelessly searching an environment, comprising:
 a processor;   memory in electronic communication with the processor; and   instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to:
 receive, at an access point, beacons from one or more tags indicating location data for the tags; 
 receive, from a mobile device, a request for location data of an entity; and 
 identify a number of the tags that correspond to the entity. 
   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 determine a response set based at least in part on the request, the identified tags, a user history, a unique identification of the mobile device, or an indication from the identified tags.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:
 transmit the response set to the mobile device.   
     
     
         30 . A computer-program product for wireless searching an environment, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor to:
 receive, at an access point, beacons from one or more tags indicating location data for the tags;   receive, from a mobile device, a request for location data of an entity; and   identify a number of the tags that correspond to the entity.